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Bad weather affecting income of local fishermen

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The bad weather is having an effect on Samoan families that rely on selling fish to make a living.

The Samoa Meteorological Service has in recent weeks issued warnings to small crafts and boats against taking to sea, as heavy rain and winds pounded the islands, as a result of tropical depressions in various parts of the Pacific.

Some of the affected fishermen, who were at the Savalalo fish market yesterday, told the Samoa Observer that the bad weather is impacting their sales and even leading to extra expenses.

Fisherman Sefo Seone said the bad weather is forcing them to travel further to fish.

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“If the Apia ocean gets too choppy and not well for fishing, we would always travel to the other side of Upolu to get some fish to sell,” he said.

Mr. Seone – who is both a fisherman and a fish vendor – said the bad weather has resulted in extra cost as at times he goes fishing at night.

Another fish vendor, Uati Sione, said selling fish is the only form of income for his family and continued bad weather doesn’t augur well for his family.

“This is the breadwinner for my own family and I won’t have any more hope if there is no fish because to be honest, I get quite a lot from selling the fish, and so I just hope the weather doesn’t get too hazardous.”

There were only about 10 fish vendors at the market when this newspaper went around, and the absence of fish varieties was noticeable.

Another fish vendor, Beverly Kepu, said she normally sells a lot of tuna but that wasn’t possible with the bad weather.

“If it weren’t for this weather, I would’ve been busy right now with lots of fish on my table. I just hope the weather goes back to normal very soon,” she said.